"Unchopping a Tree" by W.S. Merwin | Poetry

After many winters the moss / finds the sawdust crushed
Bark chips and says old friend / old friend
Certain beauty you will notice at moments, in the pattern of the chips as they are fitted back into place."
Delicacy of this huge skeleton
Even in the best of circumstances it is a labor that will make you wish often that you had won the ...
Favor of the universe of ants, the empire of the mice, or at least a local tribe of squirrels..." 
"Grind nothing into the Ground."
Hollow in whole or in part, and contained old nests of bird or mammal or insect, or hoards of nuts or such structures as wasps or bees build for their survival, the contents will have to repaired..."
"If the fall was carefully and correctly planned, the chances of anything of the kind happening will have been reduced."
Nor any substitute for the leaf's living bond with its point of attachment and nourishment."
Originally published by W.S. Merwin in Poetry 
Practice, practice. Put your hope in that.
Reassembled panoply of leaves (now dead) will draw from you an involuntary gasp. p.21
Start with the leaves, the small twigs, and the nest that have been shaken, ripped, or broken off by the fall...
"These must be gathered and attached once again to their respective places. auty you will notice at moments, in the pattern of the chips as they are fitted back into place. It is not arduous work, unless major limbs have been smashed or mutilated."
 published 2014
" EVery motion of the tackle, eVery slightly upward heave of the trunk, the branches, their elaborately reassembled panoply of leaves (now dead) will draw from you an inVoluntary gasp. You will watch for a lead or a twig to be snapped off yet again." 
With spiders' webs you must simply do the best you can. We do not have the spider's weaving equipment... 
fiXative is applied. Again we have no duplicate of the original substance. Ours is eXtremely strong, but it is rigid. It is limited to surfaces, and there is no play in it. source
You must find our own way of coping with this problems. There is a certain beauty, you will notice at moments, in the patterns of the chips as they are fitted back into place. You will wonder to what extent it should be described as natural, to what extent man-made. It will lead you on to speculations about the parentage of beauty itself, to which you will return." source
"...Zeroing in on the insecurity at the heart of all art and craft. How can any human construct even begin to compare to Nature?" ~ Jeff Peachey, 2013.

"The World is Too Much with Us" Wordsworth and SBB's Simple Abundance Feb 5 essay

Becoming aware that of preferences and opinions... Begin, instead, to listen for the whisper of God
Constant assaults on our senses, body, mind, and Spirit
Dispite all the Doom and gloom ... there is a way for us to ransom our lives and reclaim our futures: it consists in turning away from the world to recognize what in life makes us truly happy. " ~ SBB Simple Abundance Feb 5 essay. 
Earning a living and juggling the demands of home and career..."
 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” ~ Wordsworth 
Having... what does that even mean, really 🤔😳😕
Inner knowledge
Keenly listen to voices who fill their minds with God’s word, whose hearts are being healed. Give a deaf ear to the noise of faithless, fearful souls—enamored only with themselves, perpetuating a damaging hurt. Most of all focus intently on Jesus." ~ Boyd Bailey “Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor” (Hebrews 12:2)
Listen carefully.
"Marinate Your Mind With Truth" By Boyd Bailey, Feb 25, 2022 listen or read here
" ...Noble life rises above petty grievances and sees the bigger picture of what the Lord is doing." ~ Boyd Bailey Wisdom Hunters Podcast
Only when the clamor of the outside world is silenced will you be able to hear the Deeper Vibration." ~ SBB Simple Abundance Feb 5 essay.
Poet William Wordsworth complained over two hundred years ago,
Quieting our minds in meditation 🧘‍♀️
Reality of the recession means we’re paying now for the ‘spending’ of yesterday.
Spirit’s playing your song.’ Feb 5 ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance A Daybook of Comfort and Joy
There is a way for us to ransom our lives and reclaim our futures: it consists in turning away from the world to recognize Truth
Uniquely personal journey. It may be as simple as cleaning up your desk so that you can find the adult extension course brochure with the watercolor classes.
Vibration: Only when the clamor of the outside world is silenced will you be able to hear the Deeper Vibration." ~ SBB Simple Abundance Feb 5 essay.
eXhausted from the ‘getting’- the amount of energy spent earning a living... We are always being shown the neXt step of our Uniquely personal journey. " ~ SBB Simple Abundance Feb 5 essay.
You can live a lifetime and, at the end of it, know more about other people that you know about yourself,” the pilot and writer Beryl Markham reminds us. We cannot let this continue to occur.
Zagarenski post "The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us? #DorothyDay
....everyday until there is peace on earth... #wheredothechildrenplay  #peaceonearth #usa #earth #love #ukraine #war #peace #Ukrainian #Kyiv

Because...

Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. ~ Isaiah 60:1
Count it all joy... "Come what May" by We Are Messengers and Cory Asbury lyrics
. thank you, again, Martha
"Evidence" by Josh Baldwin 
Friday am w/o power - going to Washington Street Coffee at 7am helped so much
"God is Good" by Francesca Battistelli listen with lyrics here
Hard week, but these songs, among other things, things helped
 thank you, Ken
Jeremy Camp "There Will Be A Day"
Katy Nicole "In Jesus Name (God of Possible)"
"Life is really all about learning to balance your dreams with your truth." ~ Sweet Magnolias Season 2 Episode 10: "If Thou Wilt, Remember"
Matt Maher "Lord I Need You" lyrics?
Netflix for Sweet Magnolias, but not much else right now
"Oh, God is good..." ~ Francesca Battistelli listen here
Quietly
Reading and writing and listening
"So Will I (100 Billion X)" by Hillsong United)
"There was Jesus" by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton
"Until Grace" by Tauren Wells, Gary LeVox listen here
"What It Is" by Amber Mark was first song I heard at Washington Street Coffee 7am 2.18.22
Zach Williams "Heaven Help Me" listen here with lyrics

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

"Autumn felt like the whole world was browned and roasted until it was so tender it was about to fall away from the bone." p. 65
"Because, no matter how hard she tried, she knew she couldn't catch someone who didn't know they were falling." p. 167 
Chive blossom stir-fry p. 64 Claire used to make them, but then she became a  Candyhead and...
Didn't have time anymore." p. 76
Everything I make up is nothing compared to her reality."p. 244
"First Frost falling on Halloween this year seemed to be making everything just that much weirder." p. 47
"Giddy, like when you've been awake too long or had too much caffeine."
"Her gift ... It made Her feel powerful and grounded. Rooted." p.235
"I'm going to make like a ghost and hover." p. 116 "It's you, not the garden." p. 232
Joyful attitude is ravenous / consuming everyone who is near it." p. 83
"Known that happiness isn't a point in time you leave behind. It's ahead of you. Every single day." p.228
"Lavender essence is for happiness, with a touch of honey to raise your spirits." p. 83
"Maybe you don't fall in love. Maybe you jump. Maybe, just maybe, it's all a choice." p. 275
"Not tonight," he said, leading her up the staircase. "Plans. I have plans." p.70
"Oh no," Claire said with a smile.  "Plans." p. 65
Puzzle piecesthat will give us a clearer picture of ourselves. p. 270
"Quiet Claire" p. 69
"Rose essence is for memory / of long ago first loves, have a taste and you will see / the one you once dreamed of." p. 47
"Revisionist history" p.94 Refers to conscious, intentional misstatements about things in the past, whether distant or recent
"Someone who stayed...
Tyler..." p. 69
Until Mariah... p. 280
"...Verbena essence is to soothe / producing a comforting quiet." p. 144
"Wise is a voice with nothing to prove. / Everyone should try it." p. 145
"eXotic sweetness of the fig." p. 234
"Yukking it up" p. 113
Zahler

Valentine's Day ABCs 2022 Edition

 Amy, thank you, for the most amazing Healing Art. I am so very grateful 🙏 

  Do small things with great love...
Every day is another opportunity 
For all of us to
Give the gift of love
I love you all so much xoxo
"Jesus loves everyone" thank you for the reminder, Kelly and Nolan
Koi Coaching & Consulting

"Make your own pink..." ~ Sarah Addison Allen

Onyx MC email
Puzzle 

Reading First Frost for the second time
Sue Gager's Valentine from a few years ago...


Unlimited love
Valentines come in many shapes, size, and 
 “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”. ~ Mother Teresa
XoXoXo
 Priscilla
Zagarenski video here

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Almond butter and ginger jelly sandwiches.” p.83
Bascom, North Carolina
Claire Waverley  gardens at night, so she fills her garden full of night bloomers ... p.3
"Desire was dangerous to thin-skinned people." p. 116
Evanelle: “Some of the best people I know are fools. The strongest people I know.”
"Feeling uneasy, she watched him as he walked away." p. 86
"...Gust of autumn wind that blew fallen leaves around so fast they could cut you." p. 115-6
"Her lipstick was smudged and lopsided from talking out of the side of her mouth." p. 75
"In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit..." description on front flap
"Just because no one expects you to do it doesn't mean you can't. Don't you ever want to prove people wrong?" p. 104
"Keep the Beauforts as friends and you'll know what people are saying about you." ~ Ariel Clark
"Leave the magic to the Waverleys... We have something better. We have fantasy." p. 91
"Morning dawned bright and sweet like ribbon candy." p. 222
"Not so easy to forget, is it?" ~ Claire "No." ~ Tyler
"One of them had to be sensible." p. 85
Part One: Hindsight. Part 2 : Insight
"Quivering slightly." p. 94
Read this book in 2008 - Read it again in 2022
Some people don't know how to fall in love, like not knowing how to swim. They panic first when they jump in. Then they figure it out.” ~ Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells
 To a Waverley, there's a meaning to everything!" p. 98
"Understandable, sugar. You were working." p. 118
"Vehemently, rudely if necessary." p. 83
When you're happy for yourself, it fills you. When you're happy for someone else, it pours over.” ~ Sarah Addison Allen, Garden Spells
It had been eXhausting, and she was glad to be someplace ... where things belonged" p. 110
"Your secret to this garden. You talk to the plants." p. 84
"Zucchini blossoms aided in understanding." p. 240

Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes books

"...As clouds gather and heavy flakes fall...
"...Change the world before morning... make it slow and
Delightful!"
"...Earth turn to sugar...and all that is heavy, turn light."
"Family revels in the Freedom and peace that snow brings" front flap of Before Morning
"Graceful, strong, and bold..." ~ Swirl by Swirl : Spirals in Nature
 
"How powerful are words? Can they make things happen? Stop them from happening? Can they protect us? Comfort us? Enchant us? ...Humans have been using invocations for thousands of years, to soothe the body and strengthen the soul..." - J.S.
"Illustrations of astonishingly beautiful scratch-board art..."  front flap of Before Morning
 Joyce Sidman and Illustrator Beth Krommes' books have captivated me
Krommes is the Caldecott-winning artist of The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson
"Let quick things be swaddled...Let the air turn to feathers"
Make it slow... Make it snow
Nurtured by Nature
"Please -- just this once 
"...Quick things be swaddled"
"Rises above the sleeping city. A too-busy world falls silent..." Before Morning

 


"Urgent plans founder [become disabled]"
"...Written in the form of an invocation - a poem that invites something to happen, often asking for help or support...What is it you wish for? Find the best words for that wish and speak them aloud. Maybe, in the deep woolen dark, snowflakes will begin to fall..." - J.S.
these kind of look like Xs... here's mine
Yes!
01.30.2022
Zen moments in the early morning after "Bomb Cyclone Nor'easter Blizzard"

Fun and finds... Jan 21 thru Feb 12

 

 
Books and more books 📚 ❤
Corinna Luyken Captures how I feel
Daniels' Doodles do too!
"Evidence" is all around us Each and Every day

Feeling good, thanking God
God in all things Great and small
How beautiful the infinite creatures and creation
Just imagine...
Kristen's Koi_yoga_coaching : 

New Year's message from the wonderful and 
Outstanding artist
Pamela Zagarenski
Questioneers Picture Books :)
Rainbows, Sunlight, Sled, and Sleeping pup
Tracy Ann and Margo June are beautiful "Twinsies" 
"Unfailing love will not be shaken." Isaiah 59:10
 
Valentine's Day loVe
When I work at Public Library of New London I so enjoy
eXploring in the Children's area
Yes, Lavanya, I am the ones reading and thoroughly enjoying these books!